Dress in layers, not one thick jacket
Germans call it the Zwiebelprinzip — the onion rule. Three thin layers keep you warmer than one huge jacket, and you can take one off in the warm U-Bahn.
- Layer 1: thermal inner wear. This is the one that really keeps you warm.
- Layer 2: a normal sweater or fleece.
- Layer 3: a jacket that stops wind and rain, with a hood. German cold is wet more than snowy.
Add a cap, a scarf and touchscreen gloves. Cold ears and hands make the whole body feel colder.
Shoes matter more than the jacket
Cold, wet feet ruin the whole day. Get waterproof shoes with a thick sole that grips on ice. Warm socks, and one spare pair in the kids' school bag.
Do not buy everything in the first week. Buy the jacket and shoes first, then see what you really miss. Winter sales start after Christmas.
How German heating works
- The numbers on the radiator knob (1 to 5) are temperatures, not power. Around 3 means about 20°C. Turning it to 5 does not heat faster — it just keeps going until the room is too hot.
- Do not switch heating fully off in rooms you do not use. Cold rooms get damp and mouldy. Keep them a bit lower instead.
- Air the flat for a few minutes with windows wide open, a few times a day. Warm, fresh air is cheaper to heat than warm, wet air. (We wrote a whole guide on this.)
- You pay heating in advance every month. The real bill comes once a year (Nebenkostenabrechnung). Heating on full all winter can mean a big extra payment later.
Dry air: throat, lips and skin
Heating dries the air. Many people get a sore throat every morning and think it is a cold. Drink more water, use lip balm and a thick body cream, and consider a small humidifier in the bedroom — but only if your hygrometer shows the air is really dry (under about 40%).
The dark is the hard part
In December it gets dark before 4 pm in the north. Many people feel low and tired and do not know why.
- Go outside in daylight every day, even 20 minutes at lunch.
- Keep the flat bright: warm lights in the evening help a lot.
- Many people in Germany are low in vitamin D in winter. Ask your Hausarzt if a test or supplement makes sense for you — do not guess the dose yourself.
- Keep in touch. Meet other families, go to the gurdwara or mandir, call home. Winter is lonely when you stay in.
Things that surprise new families
- Snow duty. In many buildings the tenants must clear snow and ice in front of the house, often by 7 am. Check your Hausordnung or Mietvertrag. If someone slips and you did not clear it, you can be held responsible.
- Car tyres. In snow and ice you must drive on winter tyres. Only tyres with the snowflake-mountain symbol (Alpine symbol) count now. The fine is not cheap, and insurance can make trouble after an accident.
- Phone batteries die fast in the cold. A small powerbank in the jacket saves the evening.
- Bikes need working lights, and it is dark on the way home. Police do check.
Kids: German schools send children outside at break even in cold weather. Waterproof trousers (Matschhose) and spare gloves are normal here, not overprotective.
My winter shopping list
These are search links, so you see all the options and today's price on Amazon.de. Prices change often, so compare a few before you buy.
- Thermal underwearThe best value for money on this list. Get two sets.See price
- Touchscreen glovesSo you do not take them off at every message.See price
- Waterproof winter shoesLook for "wasserdicht" and a thick grip sole.See price
- Powerbank 10,000–20,000 mAhCold kills phone batteries fast.See price
- HygrometerTells you if the air is too dry or too wet.See price
- Warm-white lamp or light chainMakes dark evenings much easier.See price
- Kids rain trousers (Matschhose)Standard for school and Kita in winter.See price
Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — you pay nothing extra.
Quick answers
What does number 3 on a German radiator mean?
It is a temperature setting, roughly 20°C. Turning it higher does not heat faster.
Do I have to clear snow in front of my building?
In many buildings, yes. It depends on your rental contract and house rules, so check them.
Why do I have a sore throat every winter morning?
Often it is dry heating air. Drink more water and check the humidity. A humidifier helps only if the air is really dry.
Are M+S tyres still winter tyres in Germany?
No. Since October 2024 only tyres with the Alpine (snowflake-mountain) symbol count as winter tyres.
The first winter is the hardest. By the second one you will know your layers, your heating and your people — and you will be the one giving advice to the new family downstairs.